Nasa astronaut opens up about the terrifying physical and mental effects of being stranded in space for eight months.
Suni wwilliams’ unexpected mission extension took a toll on her body
NASA astronaut Sunita ‘Suni’ Williams embarked on her mission on June 5, 2024.
She and her crewmate, barry ‘butch’ wilmore, were initially scheduled to stay in space for only eight days.
However, technical issues with their Boeing capsule extended their mission unexpectedly.
The capsule returned to Earth without them. Williams and Wilmore remained at the International Space Station (ISS) and are expected to return home next month.
The physical challenges of prolonged space travel
Williams has been in space for so long that she has forgotten how to perform basic activities like walking and sitting. Speaking with students at Needham High School in Massachusetts, she shared her struggles: “I’ve been up here long enough. I’m trying to remember what it’s like to walk. I haven’t walked. I haven’t laid down.”
Astronauts face health concerns due to extended missions
Williams and Wilmore rarely leave the ISS. However, they recently ventured outside to remove a broken antenna and check for microbes on the station’s exterior.
Images of Williams and Wilmore have raised concerns about their health. Experts noted signs of significant weight loss. Dr. Vinay Gupta explained:
“Her cheeks appear sunken, which happens with total body weight loss. This suggests she has been in a calorie deficit for a while.”
Nasa reassures the public about astronauts’ health
NASA addressed health concerns and reassured the public. The agency stated:
“All NASA astronauts aboard the International Space Station undergo routine medical evaluations, have dedicated flight surgeons monitoring them, and are in good health.”
NASA is actively working with SpaceX to ensure Williams and Wilmore return safely. On January 29, NASA tweeted:
“NASA and SpaceX are expeditiously working to safely return the agency’s SpaceX Crew-9 astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore as soon as practical, while also preparing for the launch of Crew-10 to complete a handover between expeditions.”
Williams and Wilmore remain in space, awaiting their long-overdue return to Earth.